Duars

Innumerable streams and rivers flow through these fertile plains from the mountains of Bhutan. In Assam, the major rivers are the Brahmaputra and Manas, and in northern West Bengal the major river is the Teesta besides many others like the Jaldhaka, Torsha, Sankosh, Dyna, Karatoya, Raidak, and Kaljani rivers, among others.

The native minorities comprise of numerous tribes, including the Bodo people in Assam, the Rabha, the Mech, the Toto, the Tamang/murmi, the Koch, Limbus, Lepcha and the Rajbongshis in Bengal.

The altitude of Dooars area ranges from 90 m to 1750m and its moist climate is favorable for tea gardens, which were started by British. The dense forests, its rolling hillsides with lush tea gardens, against the back-drop of Bhutanese mountains, make it very charming.

Wildlife, Reserve Forests and National Parks

The beauty of the region lies not only in its tea gardens but in fact it is specially noted for its wildlife sanctuaries and jungles that make up the countryside. The most notable of them are the National Park of Gorumara (75 km from Siliguri), Chapramari forests (68 km from Siliguri), the Buxa Tiger Reserve (200 km from Siliguri), the Jaldapara Santuary (124 km from Siliguri) and Manas National Park in Assam.

These sanctuaries abound in a fascinating diversity of flora and fauna. The vast texture of massive trees sheltering varieties of orchids and resounded with echo of birds and wild animals make it a veritable paradise for lovers of nature and eco-tourism. Number of rare, endangered species of animals like tiger, rhinoceros, elephant, make their habitats in the forests of the Dooars. Other animals include different types of deer, bison, birds and reptiles.

Other places of attraction in and around the region include

• Jayanti (30 km from Alipurduar) is a beautiful spot encircled by Jayanti River and hills.
• Bhutanghat (45 km from Alipurduar), beside River Raidak and bordering Bhutan is famous for scenic beauty
• Buxa Fort (30 km from Alipurduar) is ruin of the detention camp used by the British Government for detaining freedom fighters of India.
• Malbazar (52 km from Siliguri) has attractive tea gardens with scenic spots and with possibilities for excursions to the hills.
• Chalsa (61 km from siliguri) is famous for scenic beauty and has nice resort accommodation.
• Samsing (81 km from Siliguri near Chalsa is just beside Jaldhaka rover with attractive hillside villages, orange plantation and forest resort and is across from Bhutanese village of Sibsoo.
• Toto Para (22 km from Jaldapara) is a small village on the bank of River Torsha near Bhutan border is the home of Dooars aboriginals – the Totos